HONOLULU – Diamond Bakery, a locally-owned cracker and cookie company with a mission of Sharing Heartwarming Aloha, recently announced a company-wide project to help Hawaii’s less fortunate.
“We are 100% committed in our support of IHS, The Institute for Human Services, and its dedication to provide respite for those who are unsheltered to help transform their lives,” said Brent Kunimoto, president of Diamond Bakery. “Giving back to those less fortunate in our community is always a top priority for us so we’re mobilizing our employees to do what we can to help IHS continue to make a difference in this escalating situation.”
According to June Namba, Diamond Bakery customer coordinator, “I love to help those who are less fortunate because it makes me appreciate more of what I have. We’re always complaining about not having this or that in life but, when you’re looking at people in real need, it makes you feel like you already have a lot!”
IHS is currently the only 24-hour walk-in, emergency shelter on Oahu, providing a full range of services to anyone who may be homeless or are in danger of becoming homeless. Of their eight major service areas, Diamond Bakery is focusing on their Community Food Programs – specifically the IHS Meal Program which serves three hot meals a day, seven days a week. For more information on The Institute for Human Services, visit https://www.ihshawaii.org/.
During the weekday work hours when IHS can use the most help, Diamond Bakery employees are providing hands-on assistance preparing meals. Luckily, IHS’s close proximity to Diamond Bakery’s location makes it convenient for employee participation.
“As a company doing business in Hawaii for more than 90 years, Diamond Bakery truly cares about people. The efforts of our employee volunteers giving of their time, energy and aloha to share Heartwarming Aloha that our founders valued so much is priceless,” added Kunimoto. “Our goal is to have 100% employee participation so the Institute of Human Services is the first partner to benefit from our new policy to pay employees two days a year to perform charity work.
“I was thrilled and proud to learn about the work volunteer opportunity the company is giving us,” said Bryan Sabado, Diamond Bakery production worker. “I’m excited and looking forward to being part of the giving back process!”
Diamond Bakery was founded in 1921 as a dream between three friends to create the perfect Hawaiian-made cracker. Through the founders’ dedication, sacrifice and secret ingredient of “Heartwarming Aloha”, Diamond Bakery has grown to become a household name in Hawaii and the demand keeps growing for the company’s Hawaiian crackers and cookies.
In 2009, Diamond Bakery filled a much-needed niche selling sea biscuits—what most locals know as Saloon Pilot crackers—along the continental East Coast. Distribution of products has also expanded to Japan and the South Pacific, allowing Diamond Bakery to share heartwarming aloha with people throughout the world.
Open for over 90 years, the company is located on Oahu and was named after the famous Diamond Head landmark.